“Hi, sis. Nice to see you too.” I let cheerful sarcasm drip from every word. “How’ve you been?”
Jamie shifted beside me but didn’t pull away. She leaned closer, her free hand coming to rest on my stomach, fingers spreading against my shirt. Claiming me right in front of Celeste.
Heat bloomed through my chest, and the pounding in my head quieted.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve waltzing in here after being missing for a day and a half, acting like you don’t have a care in the world.” Celeste’s voice echoed off the sterile walls. “And who is this girl hanging on you, Eric?”
Now Jamie started to retreat. Her hold on me loosened and she took a step back.
No. Not fucking happening. I tightened my grip on her hand, anchoring her to my side where she belonged.
“Celeste, this is Jamie. If you haven’t heard about her yet, get prepared. Caleb and our parents are in love with her.”
“Hello.” Jamie’s voice had gone quiet, careful. Nothing like the bold woman I’d walked in here with.
“Hi.” Celeste barely spared her a glance.
“Jamie’s a twenty-seven-year-old single mother who’s smart, strong, and compassionate,” I said, cutting off my sister’s trademark interrogation before it could start. “I offered to help her with a problem, and she’s been kind enough to share her time with me. We’re both dealing with some pretty momentous shit in our lives, so it’s been nice to lean on each other.”
“Eric...” Jamie whispered.
Celeste’s expression shifted, worry creeping into the lines around her eyes. That was the thing about my sister’s bitchiness—underneath it all was love. She might try to knock me down, but she’d be the first one throwing punches if anyone else tried it.
“Despite whatever crisis you’re having, big brother, you had no business running off and leaving Mom and Dad here alone. By the time Marc and I got in, Mom was in full panic mode. Dad was beyond himself trying to console her. You should have been here.”
The guilt hit exactly where she’d aimed it. But I’d been carrying that weight for months now. One more day wouldn’t break me. “I have been here, Celeste. I’ve been here for the past five months helping them manage.”
“They needed you yesterday. You need to get your priorities straight. No offense to you Jamie, but Eric, the last thing you need to do is go running around with someone you just met.”
My jaw tightened, but I forced myself to stay calm. Celeste was scared. Scared for Caleb, scared for our parents, scared that everything was spiraling out of her control. She was lashing out because that’s what she did when she was terrified.
But I wasn’t going to let her take it out on Jamie.
“You’re right about one thing. I do need to get my priorities straight.” I paused, letting that sink in. “And Jamie is one of them now. Just like you are. Just like Caleb and Mom and Dad.”
Jamie tensed beside me, but I kept my focus on Celeste.
“Since Caleb adores her, and she’s been nothing but kind to our family, maybe you could try extending the same courtesy.” I kept my voice even, but there was steel underneath. “Because if you scare her away, you’ll have one very sad little brother on your hands. And one very pissed off older brother.”
Celeste’s face scrunched like she was about to throw a tantrum. It reminded me of when she was five, standing with her hands on her hips, furious that the world wasn’t bending to her will. Sort of like the kid Jamie and I had encountered at the lookout yesterday.
“Well, get your shit together before you come in here,” Celeste snapped. “Caleb’s not feeling well, and Marc helped Dad take Mom home for a sedative and rest. It’s just you and me. Caleb doesn’t need this drama.” With a frustrated sigh, she turned and marched into Caleb’s room.
The mention of Caleb not feeling well hit like a punch to the gut. Everything else became background noise.
“Maybe I should just go see my dad and let you deal with things here. I don’t want to cause trouble, especially not if Caleb’s feeling bad.” Jamie was already pulling away, ready to run.
That frustrated me more than anything Celeste had said.
“No.” It wasn’t an argument. It was a demand. No way in hell was I letting her leave now. “Come in and say hello to him. It’ll help him feel better.”
“But what about your sister?”
“What about her?” I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. “You think I can’t handle her?”
“I don’t want her to hate me. And I don’t want her to take it out on you.”
Her concern for me, even after Celeste’s attack, made something fierce and possessive roar to life in my chest.
